Dr. R. Byron Pipes

John L. Bray Distinguished Professor of Engineering

Dr. R. Byron Pipes has accepted our offer to join Purdue University as the John L. Bray Distinguished Professor of Engineering with
joint appointments with Materials, Chemical, and Aeronautics & Astronautics Engineering. He is engaged in research on the incorporation of
carbon nanotubes into polymer matrix composite materials as reinforcing components. He will be a factor in the success of our ventures in
polymeric materials and their composites. Dr. Pipes received his undergraduate education at Louisiana Polytechnic Institute in 1964, obtained
his M.S.E. at Princeton University in 1969, and Ph.D. at University of Texas at Arlington in 1972. He was on the faculty of Drexel University
from 1972-74. He joined the University of Delaware in 1974 as Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering where he served as
Dean of Engineering from 1985-1991 and as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs from 1991-1993. While he was with the University of
Delaware, he co-founded the Center for Composite Materials and served as the Center Director for more than 10 years. Under his leadership, the
Center became the largest and most successful of its kind in the U.S. Dr. Pipes was President and Institute Professor of RPI from 1993-1998. After staying with the College of William and Mary as Distinguished Visiting Scientist for three years, he joined the University of Akron in 2001 where he was the Goodyear Endowed Professor. He has published two books as a co-author, and three as a co-editor, and over one-hundred archival publications. Dr. Pipes is a member of the National Academy of Engineering since 1987 and the Swedish Royal Academy of Engineering since 1993, and has received numerous awards for his contributions in composites research and education. He has been a consistent contributor to studies sponsored by the National Materials Advisory Board and other committees of the National Research Council.